Circuit-closer for motor-vehicle electric horns.



k at

W. P. SENG.

CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR "N08 VEHICLE ELECTRIC HOBNS.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 1- W. P. SENG.

CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR MOTOR VEHICLE ELECTRIC H'ORNS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 1. 1912.

1,134,356, Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR.

' ling? the circuits ofelectric-horns, bells,'or'

cm realms-um "cu um sem whom may concern: Y

.Be it known that I, wm P. $186,? citizen of the United States,-residing, at Ch1- ugcgin the county of'Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a Circgit-Closer for Motor-Vehicle Electric Horns, of which thefollowing is a full andcomplete specificaw My invention relates tocircuit-closing de-' vioes which are employed in connection withmotor-vehicles for the purpose of control- I other electricaldevices,'the present invention' being a modificationof'the form ofcircui-t closer shown and described in- 111' companion application forpatent, filed ay 21, 1912, Serial 170.698, 823.

The present arrangement, shown in the accompanying drawin sandhereinafter'described, is especially a a'pted for use in connection withthat particular form of steering-mechanism for motor-vehicles in whichthe 'steeringpost-carrying" the handwheel-'is rotatablymounted in astationary sleeve or hollow standard and contemplates suitable means formaintaining'an electric connection between conductors carried by thefixed standard and movable wheel, respectively; said means in thepresent instance providing, also, for disconnecting or breakingthecircuit at this point, so that the humor other electric device will notbe operated should anyone tamper with the circuit-closer. j I

The present invention-consists in the construction and arran ementofparts, hereinafter described, an -what- I new claim as new, and desireto protect b Letters-Patcut, is set forth in the a'ppen edclaims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating acircuit closing, device in accordance with my present invention.v Fig. 2is a side elevat1on,'partly in section, and illustrating anelectric-horn and its connections, the atter being showndiagrammatically.- Fig. 3 is a detail sectional' view, toillustratethe-relative'posia,

- tion of the contact members of the circuit.-

closer. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the means forconnecting the conductors on the movable hand-wheel and.

- parts in all theifigure's of the drawings;

. m fif sehe u 1 manta A a-{0,1915 Li M nli dhttmbu 7,1010. seminar i Myimproved '-circuit-closing devices applied in-the-present instance tothat con? ventional form which the steering-post 5 isrotata ly mount ed1n a stationary sleeve or hollow standard 6, and'has attached to itsupper end the -6o usual steering-wheel 7, .the latter comprising a hub7', mm 7",- and spokes 7 connecting the rim and hubs tery 8, throughtheintervention of the con-' of steering ap 'aratus.

7 Also, as shown in the drawings, the electric circuitfrom thebatscribed, operates an electric-horn 9, of any I approved type, but itwill be understood, of course, that the circuit may be used to aperateany other ele trio device.

In carrying out y invention I employ a circuit-closer comprisingpreferably an annular contact-member 10, adapted to co-act with thespokes of the steering-wheel 7, so that any one of said spokes mayconstitute the other contact-member, and these contactmembers areelectrically connected, respectively, to the opposite poles ofthebattery,

a the horn beingsuitably arranged in the circuit. The'annularcontact-member or ring 10 is disposed above the spokes 7 and nornailyout of contact therewith, being yieldmgly supported by a series of flatsprings 11, corresponding in number with and in sulatingl attached tosaid spokes near their inner en s. The flatsprings are attached to thespokes preferably by screws and insulatmg blocks or washers 13, and byreference to Fig. 1 it will be noted that the con tact-member or ring isof somewhat less diameter than the rim of the steerin -wheel I turnedwithout touching .the contact-member or so that said rim may be graspedan ring, the operation of the latter being effected, when, desired, bythe operator de-c pressing the same with his thumbs, which overlap therim, as will be understood.

- The annular contact-member or ringlO is electrically connected to'aconductor 14, carried on the'hub of the steering-wheel 7 ,and intraveling contact with an annular plate 15 insulatingly attached to theupper end 'of the stationary sleeve or standard 6, said plate beingconnected to one pole -of the attery by wire 16, horn 9 and wire 17. Theother pole of the-battery is connected to a ground wire 18, which in thepresent instance is connected-to any part of themetal' upper end of thesleeve, the latter having a milled nut 14 threaded on the upper endthereof to bear against the connecting-plate 11", and an interposed andinclosed spring 14* serves to press the foot against the annular plate15. The sleeve is supported on the hub of the steering-wheel by abracket 19, from which it is suitably insulated, and,

in the present instancethe projecting end of the shank 14: of thepresser-foot is provided with a milled head-14' having anin wardlyprojecting pin 14 adapted to work in a corresponding aperture in themilled nut 14' and permit the presser-foot to ride on the aforementionedplate 15 and thereby electrically connect the annular contactmember orring '10 to the battery, as hereinbefore explained.v When 1t is desiredto temporarily break the circuit for any reason,

for instance to prevent operation ofuthe horn by anyone tampering withthe contact-e member or ring, it is only necessary, to 11ft the. head 14until thepin 14 leaves the.

aperture or hole and turn said head until the pin is out of alinementwith said hole and bears against'th'e milled nut, thus moving thepresser-foot 14" out of contactwith the plate 15 and holding it in thisposition.

The plate 15 which is fastened on the upper end of the hollow standard 61s' 1n two parts having depending attaching flanges 15, by which saidparts are clamped on'the standard by bolts 15", suitable insulatingmaterialbeing interposed between I the two-part plate and standard, andthe attaching flange of one of the partsof the plate is Provided with aboss 15, to which the ,wire' 16 from the electric-horn is suitablyconnected.' The operation of the device will be readily understood byreference to, the drawings,for in sounding the hornlit is only necessaryto press the annular contactmember or ring 10 downward into contact withone or more of the spokes of the steering-wheel, thus closing thecircuit, which will then be from the positive pole of the battery bywire 17, born 9, wire 16, plate 15,

conductor 14, and spring plate 11 11 to contact member'IO, and throughspokes of steering-wheel, the steering-post 5 and wire 18 to negativepole of battery. When pres sure on the annular contact-member or ring isreleased the supporting springs 11 will move said contact-membercuring-away from the spokes, so that the cireuitwill he held normallyopenat this point.

It will be noted that the contact-member or ring 10 is so located as notto interfere with'the ordinary operation ofthe wheel in steering, andinasmuch as it follows the rim around its, entire inner circumferencesaid contact-member or ring may be manipulated at any point at whichthehand or hands of tber could be employed and suitably wired to thenegative pole of the battery. a

Having described my invention, I claim:

tionary element and a circularly movable element, of an electric circuitincludin a substantially annular contact-member isposed in closerelation to and surrounding the axis of the movable element and adaptedto complete the circuit-through the same, and electric conductors on theaforesaid movable and stationary, elements, respectively, and normallyin movable contact one with the other, the conductor on the movableelement being electrically-connected to the aforesaid contact-member.

2. In combination with a steering mechanism for motor-vehiclescomprising a stationary element anda movable steeringwheel, of anelectric circuit having a substantially annular contact-member disposedin close relation to the steering-wheel and connected to the contactmember, said presser-foot and plate being included in the.

circuit. I 1

3. In combination with a steering mechationary element and a movablesteeringwheel,'of an electric signal circuit and circomplete the circuitthrough said wheel, an annular plate'insulatingly attached to thestationary element, and a conductor carried by the steering wheel andcomprising a 8 '1. In combination with a steeringmecha-' nlsm formotor-vehicles comprising a sta adapted to complete the circuit throughsaid in contact-with the plate and electrically a nism formotor-vehicles, comprising a ,sta-

sleeve insulatingly attached to said steering wheel,,a nut threaded onthe upper end of the sleeve, a spring-actuated presser-foot having ashank extending through and beyond the end of the sleeve, and ahead onthe end ofthe shank having a pin adapted to take into a hole in theaforesaid nut to permit the presser-foot to slidably enga e the plate,said presser-foot being electrica ly connected to the aforesaid contactmember.

4. In combination with a steering mecha nism for motor-vehicles,comprising a stationary element and a movable steeringwheel,- of anelectric signal circuit and circuit-closer havin a substantially annularcontact-member d isposed in close relation to the steering-wheel andadapted to complete the circuit through the same, and a series ofsprings extending from the annular contactmember and insulatinglyattached to the steering-wheel, one of said springs'having together withan annular an extension forming an electric connection; plate insulatinly' attached 'to the stationary element, ancfa conductor carried by themovable steerin wheel and comprising a sleeve insulating y attachedthereto and adapted to receive the spring extension or connection, a nutthreaded on the end of the sleeve against said extension or connection,a spring-actuated presserdr'oot havin a shank extending through andbeyon the nut, and a head on the end of the shank having a pin adaptedto take into a hole in said nut and permit the p'resser-foot to slidablengage the late.

In testimony whereof have signe name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WENDELIN P. SENG. Witnesses:

FRANK J. SENG, 4 J OHN M. BRos'r.

